The Missouri Western men’s basketball team hung in against the Southwest Baptist Bearcats but poor free throw shooting cost them in a 65-61 loss in Bolivar, Mo. Tuesday evening. Lavonte Douglas collected his third double-double of the season and fifth of his career dumping in 15 points and snaring a career high 17 points. Western falls to 4-10 overall and 1-9 in MIAA play.
Despite getting outscored by 12 points from long distance in the opening frame, the Griffons were able to hang in there with the Bearcats. After getting down 19-7 in the first eight minutes of the contest the Griffons slowed things down getting themselves back into the game.
Western outscored the Bearcats 22-15 in the final 11:52 cutting the SBU lead to five at the half. Western made 12-of-24 field goals with Reed Mells and James Harris pitching in six points apiece.
The Bearcats connected on seven 3’s in the half with Preston Guiot connecting on three for a game high nine points. SBU outrebounded the Griffons 25 to 14 with 16 coming on the offensive end of the floor. Daveion Zellner led all players with seven boards.
The second half started well for Western scoring the first five points tying the score at 34 after a Deionta Mitchell jumper with 17:18 to play. With the score tied at 39 the Bearcats used a 9-0 run claiming the 48-39 lead with 9:11 to play after a Memnon Robson jumper.
The Griffons remained calm using a run of their own cutting the SBU lead to 55-53 after a Freddie Manyawu lay-up with 3:34 to play in the contest. Western could not get the big shot down the stretch as two Ryan Dougherty free throws with 18 second to play downed the Griffons by four.
Western made 24-of-56 shots with the only other Griffons close to double digits was James Harris dumping in nine while Manyawu dumped in a career best eight of the bench. The Griffons outscored the Bearcats 30 to 20 in the paint but SBU hit six more three’s in the game.
SBU made just 23-of-71 shots but connected on 11 three point shots and had 26 offensive rebounds which led to 15 more shot opportunities than Western. Preston Guiot dumped in 20 points making six long range shots while Dougherty and Robson dumped in 14 and 13 respectively. Memnon also snared 10 rebounds. The Bearcats improve to 11-8 overall and 4-6 in MIAA play.
Western returns to action on Saturday, January 21 when they open up the second half of MIAA play against the Pittsburg State Gorillas. Tip time is set for 3:30 pm from the MWSU Fieldhouse.
— MWSU Sports Information —